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The Vikings have until May 3 to exercise their fifth-year options on LT Matt Kalil and S Harrison Smith.

Under the most recent collective bargaining agreement, teams have a fifth-year option for players drafted in the first round such as Kalil and Smith. Picking up Smith's option seems like a no-brainer, but Kalil's situation is a bit more complicated because he was a top-ten pick. That means Kalil would get paid the average salary of the ten highest-paid players at his position. Joel Corry from the National Football Post believes that figure would be around $10.75 million. That hardly seems worth it after Kalil graded out as Pro Football Focus' fourth-worst offensive tackle in 2014, leaving the Vikings with a tough decision. Feb 12 - 10:19 AM

Vikings LT Matt Kalil is questionable for Week 12 after being limited in Friday's practice with a knee injury.

Coach Mike Zimmer called it a "minor aggravation" of his knee, and Kalil said he expects to play. Kalil has been terrible this season and still seems to be bothered by the knee injury that hampered him last year. Kalil has given up 11 sacks already this season. Sat, Nov 22, 2014 12:29:00 PM

Vikings LT Matt Kalil said he battled through a right knee injury that affected his play last season.

"It was some problems with my knee swelling up, becoming inflamed," Kalil said. "And that affected the way I move and stuff like that." It helps explain the precipitous dropoff in play from Kalil's Pro Bowl rookie season. Kalil had the knee scoped this offseason and expects to be 100% by training camp. Sun, Jun 15, 2014 08:28:00 PM

Kalil sat out voluntary workouts earlier this month, and has been limited to individual drills in this week's OTAs. He underwent the procedure "about four or five weeks ago," and is fully expected to be ready for training camp. The No. 4 overall pick of the 2012 draft is looking to bounce back from a disappointing sophomore campaign. Thu, May 29, 2014 02:41:00 PM

Depth Charts

The lower back injury that ended Jerick McKinnon's rookie year in early December required surgery.

He is "a couple weeks" from completing his rehab. McKinnon says he'll be ready to participate fully when the Vikings' offseason workout program begins on April 20. After a promising rookie season, McKinnon's 2015 role is unclear. He could operate as a change-of-pace back if Adrian Peterson returns. If the Vikings decide they can't keep Peterson at his $15.4 million cap number, McKinnon would become the front-runner for Minnesota's starting job.